STRANGER, YOU AND I

by Patricia Calvert ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1987

Hughie McBride is convinced that he is invisible. He dreams of being a Hemingway/Wolfe-style writer and getting out of town so that he won't end up like his dad, who has ""a tired wife, four kids, and a job with no future."" Hughie has a best pal--a girl, Zee--and they have been buddies forever. To her, he is not invisible, but lately she's been acting strangely. The reason comes out: Zee, in a moment of needing comfort, went too far with a rich jerk from school, and now she's pregnant. Since this story narrated by Hughie, we don't linger over her mental agonies; Hughie grows, changes, and achieves ""grace under pressure"" by dealing with Zee's difficulties (although most people think he's the father), by encouraging his parents to stay together, by being a mainstay to his little brother, and by learning to be himself. He's a totally winning hero, and his niceness is never cloying He supports Zee emotionally through her pregnancy, her baby's adoption, and her departure in a sensible, moral, responsible way, and they remain ""good buddies"" to the end. A warm, readable book about modern problems that will be sure to touch young people.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 162

Publisher: Scribners

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S